Actual Window Manager is A Must-have Tool for Users of Remote Desktop/Terminal Services

Introduction

The popularity of Remote Desktop Protocol is on the rise now. It is implemented in all the latest versions of Windows® OS, including 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008. So, what exactly is Remote Desktop? As Microsoft® defines it, Remote Desktop Protocol, or RDP, is a protocol allowing for separate virtual channels for carrying presentation data, serial device communication, licensing information, highly encrypted data (keyboard, mouse activity), etc. To put it simpler, Remote Desktop Protocol lets you connect to any remote computer across the Internet fr om your own machine. It gives you mouse and keyboard control over the remote machine while showing you everything that's happening on the screen. Remote Desktop is beneficial if you provide remote helpdesk services to your customers, or simply want to help your friend troubleshoot his computer problem, or connect to your work PC from the home computer, etc.

Terminal Services is a special use of Remote Desktop Protocol. It's available as a Terminal Server component in Windows® 2000/2003/2008 and allows residing all users' workspaces at the server side completely, and then using so-called "thin clients" (low-cost PCs with the low-end hardware) at workplaces to connect to the server through the Remote Desktop Protocol. Because of the fact that workspace resides at the server completely, user can use any PC connected to that server and will have the same software environment anywhere. Such approach is popular when organizing workplaces in call centers, network operation centers, stock exchanges, and corporate networks in general.

Side Effects of Remote Access

For all its benefits, the remote access has its peculiarities that may make its using inconvenient or even annoying.

In the first place this is the size of the desktop, which is constantly changing: when remote connection is established, the desktop becomes smaller for the sake of traffic economy - and when the user works locally, the desktop obtains its normal size. As a result, users have to constantly drag windows to get better placement for them and change their size after every change of desktop size.

Secondly, Remote Desktop/Terminal Services Protocol cannot define the exact number of monitors connected to the client machine (it's only possible since Windows Vista) and when there are several monitors on, they are treated as one large monitor. It results in the so-called "split windows problem", that is when windows are placed "between monitors": some programs automatically position their windows (as a rule, these are query dialogs, message boxes, etc.) in the center of the desktop so such windows become split between several monitors, which makes the work difficult.

Solutions Provided by Actual Window Manager

Fortunately, now all above-mentioned unwanted effects can be completely solved or, at least, significantly diminished by Actual Window Manager.

The program has a Windows Layout tool that keeps the placement of open windows and maintains their sizes in relation to other windows and the desktop itself, each time its size changes. Changes in size and position are tracked automatically and adjustments are made without user interference.

Then, there are Align at startup and Resize at startup options, which let users specify the size and position of particular windows on the desktop as a percent of a corresponding desktop size. Thanks to these features, users can adjust precisely the placement of frequently used windows, regardless of the current desktop resolution - windows will look the same at all sizes of the desktop.

As a remedy for the "split windows problem", Actual Window Manager offers a Relocate split windows option. It automatically detects windows split between monitors and moves them to the pre-defined place on the desktop. This makes work much more predictable and comfortable.

Conclusion

Remote Desktop considerably increases the efficiency of using computational resources. Actual Window Manager , in its turn, can greatly increase the efficiency of remote access itself, letting users eliminate some inconveniences and associated routine operations. The behavior of windows becomes more predictable and in line with speed and comfort requirements.

In the desire to own large screens with a high resolution, we buy 4K monitors, connect televisions and projectors to computers, and assemble multi-monitor systems, but we face the problem of effective use of the new display space.